Present tense

As is common in Gaelic, there is no present tense form of the verb. When a simple present meaning ("I say something") or a progressive meaning (I am saying something) is intended, the periphrastic construction is used with the present tense of the verb bi (be), i.e., tha, along with the verbal noun.

Tha

mi

a'

dol

be.pres

1s

prog

go

I'm going/I go

Future tense

The future tense in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is habitual.

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

Relative Future1

1

thèid mi

an tèid mi

cha tèid mi

nach tèid mi

a thèid mi

2

thèid thu

an tèid thu

cha tèid thu

nach tèid thu

a thèid thu

3 masc

thèid e

an tèid e

cha tèid e

nach tèid e

a thèid e

3 fem

thèid i

an tèid i

cha tèid i

nach tèid i

a thèid i

1 pl

thèid sinn

an tèid sinn

cha tèid sinn

nach tèid sinn

a thèid sinn

2 pl

thèid sibh

an tèid sibh

cha tèid sibh

nach tèid sibh

a thèid sibh

3 pl

thèid iad

an tèid iad

cha tèid iad

nach tèid iad

a thèid iad

Note:

the relative future is used after certain particles such as ma or the particle used with questions a.

Impersonal/Passive Voice

Gaelic verbs don't technically have a Passive verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a periphrastic construction using the verbs Rach or Tha + the passive marker air. It does, however, have an impersonal form. The Impersonal is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. Rachar

Since go is an intransitive verb you'll never find these forms with a pronoun

Past tense

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

rachar chaidheas

an d'rachar an deachas

cha d'rachar cha deachas

nach d'rachar nach deachas

Present tense

The use of a passive in the present tense is odd, even in English. We leave this blank here.

Future tense

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

Relative Future1

thèidear

an tèidear

chan tèidear

nach tèidear

a thèidear

Notes

the relative future is used after certain particles such as a the particle used with questions, or ma "if".

Conditional Mood

Active

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

1

rachainn1

an rachainn

cha rachainn

nach rachainn

2

rachadh tu2

an rachadh tu

cha rachadh tu

nach rachadh tu

3 masc

rachadh e

an rachadh e

cha rachadh e

nach rachadh e

3 fem

rachadh i

an rachadh i

cha rachadh i

nach rachadh i

1 pl

rachadh sinn (rachamaid3)

an rachadh sinn (an rachamaid3)

cha rachadh sinn (cha rachamaid3)

nach rachadh sinn (nach rachamaid3)

2 pl

rachadh sibh

an rachadh sibh

cha rachadh sibh

nach rachadh sibh

3 pl

rachadh iad

an rachadh iad

cha rachadh iad

nach rachadh iad

Notes:

The 1st person singular form is never used with an overt pronoun, the verb contains the pronoun already.

The pronoun tu is used here instead of thu

The 1st person plural has a special inflected form, which like the first person singular is never used with a pronoun. This 1st person plural form is rarely used anymore.

passive

!Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

rachte reightedheighte

an rachte an d'reightean deighte

cha rachte cha d'reightecha deighte

nach rachte nach d'reightenach deighte

Imperative Mood

Rach is almost never used as the imperative of 'go'. Instead thalla (meaning "go away") is much more commonly used.